Study shows COVID-19 lockdowns played part in young adult eating disorders

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Researchers report a stark increase in young adults seeking treatment for disordered eating behaviors during the pandemic.

In the two years before the pandemic, U.S., inpatient admissions for young adults and adolescents with eating disorders rose by a rate of about 0.7% a month .

But in the first year of the pandemic, 2020, that growth increased to 7.2% a month on average.

From the Spring of 2020, when most restrictions and lockdowns were first put in place through spring 2021, the number of eating disorder inpatient admissions about doubled.

The lead researcher said the study cannot say that the pandemic caused the increase or if the severity of cases was worse during the pandemic.

The study was published Monday in the Journal Jama Pediatrics.